Big Screen vs Holyrics
Big Screen
Browser-based church presentation software with themes, timers and unlimited outputs.
- Subscription
- Free Trial
Holyrics
Free Brazilian worship presentation software for lyrics and Bible verses, with optional online plans.
- Freemium
- Subscription
Summary
- Big Screen is paid (AUD $15/month), while Holyrics is paid (Free; optional plans from US$2/month).
- They share no platforms: Big Screen runs on Web browser and Holyrics on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Import from other presentation software · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Bible: Free translations included · Media: Video playback · Media: Images · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Multilingual: Interface in multiple languages · Multilingual: Bibles in other languages · Multilingual: Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Screens & outputs: Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) · Connectivity & collaboration: Cloud sync of library · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline.
Only in Big Screen
- Runs on Web browser
- Slides & presentations (partial in Holyrics)
- Media: YouTube / online video
- Inputs & other sources: Live camera / capture card (partial in Holyrics)
- Connectivity & collaboration: Web native (runs in a browser)
Only in Holyrics
- Runs on Windows
- Runs on macOS
- Runs on Linux
- Bible: Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) (paid add-on in Big Screen)
Based on confirmed data only. Unknown values are not counted.
Side by side
- Supported Supported
- Partial Partial
- Paid add-on or tier Paid add-on / tier
- Not supported Not supported
- Unknown Unknown
- * Hover or tap for note
| Product |
Big Screen
|
Holyrics
|
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Price | AUD $15/monthFree trial | Free; optional plans from US$2/month |
| Open source | No | No |
| Deployment | Cloud / hosted | Desktop app |
| Status | active | active |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows | Not supported | Supported |
| macOS | Not supported | Supported |
| Linux | Not supported | Supported |
| Web browser | Supported | Not supported |
| iOS / iPadOS | Not supported | Not supported |
| Android | Not supported | Not supported |
| ChromeOS | Not supported | Not supported |
| Content | ||
| Songs & lyrics | Supported | Supported |
| Song library | Supported | Supported |
| Import from other presentation software | Supported: Songs can be imported from OpenSong and OpenLyrics files; an Elvanto/Tithe.ly integration also imports songs. | Supported: Lyrics can be imported from other sources, including PowerPoint files. |
| Paste or import plain-text lyrics | Unknown | Supported |
| Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) | Unknown | Supported: Built-in web search of the holyrics.com lyrics database, with many songs pre-formatted for projection. |
| Chord charts for musicians | Unknown | Supported: Chords and comments can be shown on the return (stage) monitor. |
| Motion backgrounds behind lyrics | Supported: Looping background videos, including transparent overlay videos, with adjustable variations. | Supported: Themes can use videos as backgrounds, with optional BPM-synced playback speed. |
| CCLI usage reporting | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bible | Supported | Supported |
| Free translations included | Supported: Public-domain translations such as KJV, ASV, WEB and BSB are included. | Supported |
| Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) | Paid add-on or tier: Translations such as ESV, NASB, NKJV and NLT require a one-time purchase of AUD $10 each. | Supported: Translations are offered through partnerships with Bible publishers as well as public-domain versions. |
| Slides & presentations | Supported | Partial |
| PowerPoint | Unknown | Partial: .ppt/.pptx files can be run from the program on Windows only, with Microsoft PowerPoint installed. |
| Keynote | Unknown | Unknown |
| Google Slides | Unknown | Unknown |
| Canva | Unknown | Unknown |
| Supported: Uploaded PDFs are converted to images. | Unknown | |
| Plays slide animations & transitions | Unknown | Unknown |
| Media | Supported | Supported |
| Video playback | Supported | Supported: Audio and video play through the integrated VLC player. |
| Audio playback | Unknown | Supported |
| Images | Supported | Supported |
| YouTube / online video | Supported: YouTube videos can be added to the playlist and controlled like other videos, with optional English captions. | Not supported: The FAQ states YouTube videos cannot be played in the program because of YouTube policy. |
| Inputs & other sources | Supported | Supported |
| Live camera / capture card | Supported: Phones, tablets, webcams or other network devices can be used as live video sources. | Partial: Webcams and IP cameras can be played through the VLC player, though the FAQ warns of noticeable delay. |
| Screen sharing | Unknown | Unknown |
| Web pages | Unknown | Partial: A website can be opened full screen on the projection screen (Windows only, requires Chrome or Edge). |
| Countdown timers & clocks | Supported: Countdown and count-up timers and a clock on the monitor display. | Supported |
| On-screen messages & alerts | Unknown | Supported: Alerts at the top or bottom of the screen, custom messages and a communication panel for the stage screen. |
| Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) | Unknown | Paid add-on or tier: Q&A, polls and raffles via a Telegram chatbot are part of the paid online plans; a built-in multiple-choice quiz is also available. |
| Languages | ||
| Multilingual | Supported | Supported |
| Interface in multiple languages | Supported: The interface language can be chosen per organisation and location. | Supported |
| Songs in other languages | Unknown | Supported |
| Bibles in other languages | Supported: Includes Spanish, Japanese, Thai, Khmer and Arabic translations. | Supported |
| Bilingual lyrics on screen | Unknown | Supported: Song slides can carry translations, shown on separate screens or together on one screen. |
| Bible translations side by side | Unknown | Supported: Up to 3 Bible versions can be shown simultaneously, with verse mapping across languages. |
| Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts | Supported: Lyrics and scriptures support right-to-left languages. | Supported: Settings for non-Latin scripts including Arabic, Hebrew, Cyrillic, Devanagari, Han and Hangul. |
| Integrations | ||
| Software integrations | Unknown | Unknown |
| Planning Center | Unknown | Unknown |
| ChurchSuite | Unknown | Unknown |
| WorshipTools Planning | Unknown | Unknown |
| Hardware control | Unknown | Supported |
| MIDI | Unknown | Supported: MIDI input can trigger program actions, e.g. advancing slides from a multitrack playback. |
| DMX lighting | Unknown | Partial: No direct DMX output; API items and triggers can send commands to the Lumikit lighting software. |
| Stream Deck / Companion | Unknown | Unknown |
| Automation & extensibility | Unknown | Supported |
| Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) | Unknown | Supported: Local HTTP API server with token authentication; access from the internet requires the Advanced plan. |
| Plugins / extensions | Unknown | Unknown |
| Built-in scripting / macros | Unknown | Supported: JavaScript (ECMAScript 5.1) scripts, startup code, system variables and custom API routes. |
| Webhooks / triggers to other systems | Unknown | Supported: Triggers run actions on program events, sending HTTP, WebSocket, TCP/UDP, OSC or MIDI messages and controlling OBS, vMix and PTZ cameras. |
| MCP server for AI assistants | Unknown | Unknown |
| AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) | Unknown | Unknown |
| Presenting & control | ||
| Screens & outputs | Supported | Supported |
| Multiple audience screens | Supported: Unlimited Frontend and Monitor outputs plus custom outputs. | Supported |
| Stage display / confidence monitor | Supported | Supported: Return monitors with their own settings and monitor-only messages and alerts. |
| Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming | Supported: Theme backgrounds can be transparent for use as an overlay in streaming software such as OBS. | Supported: NDI outputs can use a transparent background for keying over video. |
| Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) | Supported: Remote Displays let other computers and devices show outputs in a browser, including as an OBS source. | Supported: The Holyrics plugin runs an HTTP server so the projection can be viewed in browsers or added as a source in streaming software. |
| Broadcast video | Unknown | Supported |
| NDI | Unknown | Supported: Multiple NDI outputs with configurable resolution, frame rate and theme. |
| SDI | Unknown | Unknown |
| Built-in streaming & recording | Unknown | Not supported |
| Stream to any RTMP destination | Unknown | Not supported: The FAQ states the program does not stream itself but works alongside streaming software such as OBS. |
| YouTube Live | Unknown | Not supported |
| Facebook Live | Unknown | Not supported |
| Record the output to a file | Unknown | Unknown |
| TV output | Unknown | Unknown |
| Apple TV app | Unknown | Unknown |
| Android / Google TV app | Unknown | Unknown |
| Fire TV app | Unknown | Unknown |
| Roku app | Unknown | Unknown |
| Chromecast / AirPlay | Unknown | Unknown |
| Connectivity & collaboration | Supported | Supported |
| Cloud sync of library | Supported: Lyrics, videos and images are stored online and can be shared between locations within one organisation. | Supported: All data and media can be synchronised between computers through Google Drive (settings are not synced). |
| Works fully offline | Supported: Continues working with no internet connection; a Cache Client can serve local media. | Supported |
| Remote control from phone or tablet | Unknown | Supported: Holyrics mobile app for Android and iOS (iOS app is a one-time US$0.99 purchase). |
| Multiple operators at once | Partial: Several control surfaces can be open for a location, but only one controls the remote displays at a time. | Unknown |
| Web native (runs in a browser) | Supported | Not supported |
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